Greenwich Declares December 3rd "Giving Tuesday"

First Selectman of Greenwich Peter Tesei has proclaimed December 3, 2013 “Giving Tuesday” – an official day of giving to mark the beginning of the holiday season.

Giving Tuesday is a national philanthropic movement that encourages non-profits, businesses, and individuals to take action and give back to their communities in collaborative ways. When the initiative was launched in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y in New York City, the cities of Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia were among the first to formally endorse Giving Tuesday. This year, the town of Greenwich will observe Giving Tuesday as well.

The town of Greenwich became involved in Giving Tuesday at the suggestion of Juliana Collamer, executive director of Volunteers On Call (VOC), a local non-profit organization dedicated to volunteerism promotion and the creation of domestic and international service opportunities. VOC will be one of the 7,000 organizations around the country to partner with the movement.

“The holidays have become increasingly focused on consumerism as a result of the hype surrounding Black Friday and Cyber Monday. At Volunteers On Call, we are excited to be associated with a movement that emphasizes strengthening our community through philanthropic endeavors during the giving season,” she said. 

In honor of Giving Tuesday, Volunteers On Call will be hosting a suit drive beginning on December 3rd to collect new and gently worn mens’ suits for homeless individuals who need an outfit for job interviews. Those who are interested in donating suits or exploring service opportunities with VOC can visit www.volunteersoncall.org or contact Collamer at jscollamer@gmail.com for more information.

For more details about the Giving Tuesday movement, visit www.givingtuesday.org.